I have started a couple of Westerfield freight car kits in HO. I have built Tichy Kits and really like them. I still find something very appealing in building an undec'd car, airbrushing it when done, applying decals and weathering. I have a fleet of many hundred "shake-the-box" kits that I have done to build my fleet, but am really enjoying the more challenging kits. My question is.. are there OTHER kit manufacturers besides Westerfield and Tichy that make kits requiring 6 to 12 hours of construction time? By obscure (thread title) what I am really looking for are unusual car types. The cars I am currently building is a Westerfield NYC car from 1916 in the mode in which it was rebuilt in the latter 1920's. I am also working on a Tichy D&H Cement car. I love building this stuff. But I want some different cars. Does anyone know of other manufacturers that are making craftsmen level kits????
Quality Craft makes (Well used to make) wood kits, and from what I understand, there pains in the hind end, they were the only non-brass outlet for the 25' C&O wood cabooses before Walthers. They show up on Ebay sometimes. Funero and Carmalengo makes resin kits that are feast or famine when it comes to quality, the B&O wagon tops I've put together are nicely cast and had little flash on them, the LIRR ping-pong coaches I have are loaded with flash and one is warped(!). Theres always the Branchline Blueprint series kits, there already painted but are fun to put together (Just replace most of the detail parts with brass or metal ones).
The older WM Walthers kits from the late 1930's of wood and diecast are very detailed and (for me) too difficult to build. I sold a few on EBay a few months back for about 25 bucks each. If you want a challenge - and your very good at modelling - try one of these older kits.
Sunshine models makes some challenging kits, kind of pricey, but what isn't these days. They are mostly resin kits. Bad thing is they don't have a web site and I can't find their address that I know I have someplace.
I really miss proper kits, ever since Walthers started doing poorly put together RTR models. Its my fav part of the hobby putting something together and would choose a kit over rtr anyday if the option was there, plus EVERY piece of my rolling stock gets kitbashed to some degree and an undec kit makes this a whole lot easier! The last 'kit' I built was a Proto 2000 PS-2 Covered Hopper, that was a nice kit.
In addition to Sunshine Models (a lot of us constantly encourage Martin Lofton NOT to end up online -- we'd rather have him spend time developing kits!) a new, and excellent source, of unique HO scale resin cars is Speedwitch Media. They do have an online presence. For more modern era modelers, RailYard Models offers some excellent kits. Their decals and cars (I've built the NP box, and have ordered their CN Fowler box) are excellent -- and the books are great resources as well! Hope this helps, Marty McGuirk
Then you're probably in the minority, Marty. Most of us (few) people who actually build resin freight car kits would LOVE it if Martin did two things: 1) get a website and 2) ramp up production. The way he runs the business is a joke. Want to know what kits are still in production? Write a letter and wait 3-5 weeks for a reply. Want a kit? Send in a check and wait 3-5 MONTHS for delivery. Want to actually SEE the kits before you buy? Go to the Naperville Proto Meet and hope that they're not sold out by Friday evening. Martin doesn't have any problems coming up with new kits. The vast majority (all?) of the masters for the kits come from other people. Frank alone sends Martin more masters than he can actually produce! Frankly, I'm surprised that Sunshine is still in business. Westerfield has a great website, has great exposure, keeps kits in stock, and delivers promptly. Heck, so does the boogeyman of the resin world, Funaro & Carmelengo. Every other resin manufacturer that I can think of (Sylvan, Speedwich, Wright Track, Chad Boas, etc) has a website, and you KNOW what's available. Sunshine runs like a great 1962 business in this 2006 world, and his customers DON'T like it.
I just finished building my first Westerfield kit and was most impressed, apart from the blurry reference photos. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=82585 I've just purchased a few oddities myself, yesterday, which I am keen to start on - a Gloor Craft Pennsy N6 caboose, 2 Details West gondolas and a Funaro Long Island RR resin caboose. Should be interesting. Keep us posted on your progress, Jon
KitBash, Here is a listing of old Ambroid, Globe, and other Kits... http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-AMBROID...919QQihZ006QQcategoryZ484QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Thanks guys. Exactly what I am looking for. Appreciate the link Watash! I am one that still likes to build undec'd stuff and decal. I just finished a list to Champ for about 20some sets of decals. Still buying those things until they totally go out. Someone above mentioned the Branchline kits. That is a good idea about getting other detail parts for the kits. I like Branchline, but the dang steps, brackets, etc. are TOO fragile to make the model practical for everyday running, etc. on the layout. They look good though! I'll have to get some of my built cars loaded up on my RailImage site and link 'em.
Sheet and form styrene.... A bevy of X-acto blades and bandages...... super glue..... Some Tanax or other highly carcinogenic plastic welding solvent..... A copy of "High Times" to read after using said solvent..... Several photos or photocopies of the prototype..... My handy HO gauge ruler, dividers, compass and Sharpie's. Kadee trucks and couplers... A month or two... That's how I build a craftsman level (though a very low craftsmen) car. For older kits eBay or a local train show is the way to go. BUT, as I found out, sometimes the kits you get are factory fresh from the mid 60's or earlier. At that point, I am torn between assembling and using the car, or letting it be and saving it as an historical item. I have an early Milwaukee Road Roundhouse kit that I just can't bring my self to assemble.
Ray, Sorry for taking so long to respond to this -- haven't looked the site in a while. Anyway, my comment was somewhat tongue-in-cheek :teeth: -- Martin is obviously happy with his business model, Sunshine is successful enough, and he doesn't seem to feel he needs to take internet orders or discount a standard 50/50/10 to sell to dealers. Yes, I've had to wait to get kits I've ordered -- and I've also put with the insanity of trying to get the kits I wanted at Naperville, but they've always shown up and I've been happy with all of them. By the way, have you checked out the Speedwich kits yet? I've been very please with them -- built the NP 50-foot boxcar, and hoping to start the CN Fowler, when, and if, I ever get the model of the Waterbury station done. Take care, Marty
I sort of hoped so. Sunshine kits are great and fit the bill for my 1949-based layout perfectly. But the way they do business aggrevates the snot out of me, which is why I've "only" got a dozen or so of their kits. I got to touchy-feelie my first Speedwich kits at Naperville. They're beautiful, but a bit pricey. I did pick up one of the Dominion cars though. In fact, I've got Ted doing some decals for me now, and hope to send a freight car master or two his way by the end of the year.
